Magazine-gun.



No 638,677. Patented Dec. 5, I899.

A. ALI-SON.

MAGAZINE GUN.

(Application filed May 23, 1898.) (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet I.

PatentedDec. 5, I899. A. ALFSUN.

MAGAZINE GUN. (Application med-m 2a, 1898.)

4 Sheets$heet 2.

(No Model.)

No. 638,677. Patented Dec. 5, I899.

A. ALFSON.

MAGAZINE GUN.

(Application filed May 23 l89B mo Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

No. 638,677. Patented Dec. 5, I899.

ALFSQN;

MAGAZINE sun.

[Application filed may 23, 1898.)

4 She6t3 s 4.

NITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

ANDREYV ALFSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO J. F.

HEARNSHAVV, OF SAME PLACE.

MAGAZINE-GUN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 638,677, dated December5, 1899.

Application filed May 23, 1898. Serial No. 681,438. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ANDREW ALFSON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Ohicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Magazine-Guns, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in magazine or repeating guns andrevolvers of the type commonly known as double-actingthat is, those inwhich at each complete stroke of the trigger or cycle ofoperation of themechanism a cartridge is brought to position at the breech, is fired,and is removed from its position in the breech and replaced by a newloaded cartridge. There are numerous well-known examples in the art ofarms of this class operating in the manner above broadly described,probably the bestknown example being the ordinary Smith & \Vesson orColt double-acting revolvers.

In all guns or revolvers known to me in which the cycle of operationabove described is caused solely by the operation of the trigger duringeach stroke thereof the capacity of the arm is exceedingly limited,seldom if ever exceeding seven successive shots and invariably using arevolving cylinder as the magazine for carrying the cartridges. Inotherclasses of repeating firearms of the magazine-gun type two separateactions are invariably necessary so far as I am aware, one being themovement of a slide or lever to eject the discharged shell and replaceit by a loaded shell and the other the mechanism for firing the shell orcartridge. This action, which is commonly called pumping, as is wellknown to the users of firearms, materially disturbs, if it does notdestroy, the effectiveness of the aim and invariably results in such achange in the position of the gun as to prevent accurate rapid shooting.

The prime object of my invention is to avoid the objections to thelimited capacity of the revolving-magazine firearm and also theobjections to the pump gun type of magazine-gun by having the gun ofgreater capacity than any magazine-gun known to me and capable of acomplete cycle of operation at each stroke of the trigger without anychange whatever in the position and aim of the gun, except that whichresults from the recoil.

Another object is to utilize the stock of the gun as a magazine forreceiving a cartridgebelt which shall be so connected with and relatedto the breech and lock mechanism of the gun as to carry off the explodedcartridge and bring into position a loaded cartridge during each cycleof operation of the gun under the influence of the trigger action.

Another object is to have the cartridgebelt of such character,disposition, and construction that while it moves in a horizontal planeand normally supports the cart-ridges in a position substantially atright angle to the barrel, stilleach cartridge-holder maybe raised atthe proper time to position for engagement with the breech-block in linewith the gun-barrel and will fall back witlrthe empty shell to itsnormal position when released by the breech-block to be carried backinto the magazine.

These and other objects, which will appear farther on, are attained bythe devices illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1represents a sectional elevation of a magazine-gun embodying myinvention with the side plate removed. Fig. 2 represents a sectionalelevation of the same, the section through the lock and breech mechanismbeing taken on the central line. Figs. 3, i, 5, and 6 represent centralvertical sections through the breech andlock mechanism, showing theparts in different positions. Fig. 7 represents a transverse verticalsection through the stock of the gun and magazine,taken on the line 7 7of Fig. 1. Fig. 8 is a horizontal section taken on the line 8 8 of Fig.1, showing the lid of the magazine thrown back; and Fig. 9 is adetailedperspective View of the links of the cartridge-belt.

Similar letters of reference indicate the same parts in the severalfigures of the drawings.

I will first describe in detail the mechanism illustrated in thedrawings as one embodiment of my invention, it being understood that myinvention is equally applicable to rifles, revolvers, and shotguns ofany caliber.

Referring now by letter to the accompanying drawings, A designates thehollow gunstock, B the barrel, O the breech-frame, I) the breech-block,E the hammer, and F the trigger, all of any suitable construction anddimensions according to the caliber of the gun and the choice of themanufacturer. The stock is provided with a hinged longitudinal cap G,covering the magazine-space,

' desired in the making up of a belt and of course, the number wouldvary with the caliber of the cartridges, each holder being designed toreceive, hold, and carry a cartridge until it is exploded and ejected bythe inversion of the gun, which act when the lid is thrown open ejectsall of the exploded shells at the same time and permits the refilling ofthe holders.

The link chain works around two sprocketwheels K, located in themagazine at either end of the partition [1, the sprocket-wheels shown inthe drawing being square in shape, although they may obviously bepolygonal and as manysides as maybe desired. In the upper part of thebreech-frame C, immediately back of the barrel, is formed a semicircularchamber M on an arc corresponding with the periphery of thecartridge-holding tube and of a length substantially corresponding withsaid tube. In the breech-block Dis formed the remaining half N of thechamber, so that when the breech-block is swung up to position againstthe upper part of the breech- .frame the two members together form acircular chamber for reception of the cartridgeholder when the cartridgeis fired, as usual in guns having movable breech-blocks. Thebreech-block is pivoted at one end to the breech-frame, as at O, and isconnected eccentrically or through a crank by a rod P with one arm of alever Q of the first class, pivoted at q to the breech-frame or to thepartition H, or to both. This lever Q, I will designate as a lock-lever,because it serves the further function of a lock forthe breech-blockwhen the latter is swung up into operative position, sustaining theshell-holder in firing position, as illustrated in Fig. 6, the lever atsuch time receiving the shock from the breechblock in a line with itspivot. This lock-lever is connected by a link R with the upper end ofthe trigger F, which latter is pivoted at S to the breech-frame, orpreferably to the partition II,and is provided with a rearwardlyextending arm T opposite its pivot for cocking the hammer. Thehammer E is also pivoted to the breech-frame or to the partition H,adjacent to the trigger, so that the trigger-arm T, when the trigger isswung backward on its pivot, engages a spring-actuated trip U, pivotedto the hammer, causing the hammer to swing backward upon its pivotin theusual manner until by reason of the different arcs on which thetrigger-arm and the trip are swinging the trigger-arm becomes disengagedfrom the trip, allowing the hammer to be forcibly thrown forward to itsnormal position under the influence of one arm of the mainspring V, theother arm of which engages the trigger and forcibly returns it to itsnormal position.

For the purpose of firing the cartridge I prefer to use an ordinaryspring-retracted firing-pin W, arranged for either rim or central tireand located in the path of the hammer, so as to be struck thereby andforced against (so as to explode) the cartridge. The firing-pin andhammer may be of any usual or desired construction, and obviously thepin may be dispensed with and the hammer causedto directly strike thecartridge. For the purpose of feeding the cartridge-belt I may employany suitable means, that shown in the drawings consisting of aspring-actuated pawl X, pivoted upon the upper end of a lever Y, thelower end of which lever is connected bya rod Z with the trigger F belowthe pivot thereof. This rod Z has a pin-and-slot connection a with thelever Y, providinglost motion, so that the backward movement of thetrigger has no effect upon the lever until just before the end of thetrigger stroke, when the position of the lever is shifted so that thepawl moves forward and engages the link of the cartridge-belt next inadvance. Of course the first part of the returning or forward movementof the trigger also has no effect upon the belt until just prior to theend of the stroke, when the belt will be moved just the length of onelink or a sufficient space to carry the exploded shell away from centralor firing position and to bring the next loaded shell into place readytobe raised and fired.

As a safety device for throwing the entire mechanism out of operation sofar as feeding the loaded cartridge is concerned, I propose to providesome suitable means for holding the pawl X in an elevated position outof engagement with the links of the belt. This may be accomplished by aspring-actuated pin b, adapted to be thrown into the path of the pawlwhich rides over it, so that no matter how many times the trigger ispulled no feeding action of the belt will take place, and as long as anempty cartridge-holder or an exploded shell is at center or firingposition the gun cannot be fired; but as soon as the pin is withdrawnthe pawl will resume its normal work.

As before described, the cartridge holders or tubes J are of suchdiameter that the cartridge snugly fits therein, with the head of thecartridge serving as a stop therefor and resting upon the upper edge ofthe holder. The holder, as before stated, is pivoted at its upper end toone of the links I of the belt, and

as the holder hangs freely from such pivot it l ward its full distanceto engage the next link is free to be swung from a substantiallyvertical up to a horizontal position within the chamber M N, formedbetween the breechframe and breech-block. Of course only the holder atcentral or firing position at the forward end of the belt can be soswung, and hence the description of such operation refers only to thisholder, as the rest are at such times out of possible firing position inthe magazine.

To elevate the cartridge-holder into position in the firing-chamber,numerous devices may be employed; but I prefer to provide a pivotedfinger c on the upper end of the locklever, which finger engages a notchd on the back of the cartridge-holder as the lock-lever is swung uponits pivot thereby forcing the cartridge-holder to swing upward on itspivot to a substantially horizontal position ready to be embracedbetween the breech-block and the breech-frame in the firing-chamber.

Having now described the general construction and operation of my gun, Iwill nowproceed to describe the cycle of operation thereof in action,reference being now had particularly to Figs. 3, 4, 5, and 6, showingthe principal positions assumed by the mechanisms during a completecycle of operation.

In Fig. 3 we find the parts in their normal position, with acartridge-holder carrying a loaded cartridge hanging in central positionready to be thrown up into firing position. The first part of thebackward movement of the trigger causes the parts to move to theposition shown in Fig. l,in which the breechblock is slightly raised,the pusher-finger on the lock-block has come into engagement with thecartridge-holder, and the trigger-arm has engaged the trip upon thehammer. The feedpawl has not changed its position, because of the lostmovement in the pin-and-slot connection between its-lever, and thetrigger-rod Z and the cartridgebelt have remained at a standstill. Thenext position of the parts is shown in Fig. 5, where the trigger hasmoved about half-way back. In this position the pusherfinger has raisedthe shell-holder about half-way up and the breech-block has made abouthalf of its movement, following in behind the shell-holder. The triggerhas also moved abouthalf-way back, and the feedpawl has just commencedits forward movement to engage the next link of the belt. In Fig. 6 theparts are shown to have practically completed their movements, thetrigger being almost all of the way back at the instant before firing.The breech-block has moved up to its final position, carrying with itthe shellholder, which is now in the firing-chamber,and the lock-leverhas moved under the breechblock, so as to sustain it against the shockof firing. The very slightest further movement of the trigger will nowtrip the hammer and cause the cartridge to be fired. It will also benoted that the feed-pawl has moved forof the belt.

hen the firing has taken place and the trigger starts to turn forward toits normal position, the first action will be to move the lock-lever outfrom under the breech-block, thereby permitting the latter to swing downaway from the cartridge-holder, which latter of course follows the blockdown, swinging in the opposite direction until all of these parts resumetheir normal positions. (Illustrated in Fig. 3.) Just before the triggercompletes its forward movement the feed-pawl is given sufficient actionto move the cartridgebelt the length of one link, which causes theexploded shell, now in lowered position, to move away from centralposition and the next loaded shell to move up into central positionready for a repetition of the operation previously described uponanother pulling of the trigger. This cycle of operation takes place ateach complete stroke of the trigger and may be effected as rapidly asthe operator is capable of manipulating the trigger or desires to firethe gun, and it may be repeated as often as the charge of the gun willpermit.

It will be noted that the cartridge-shells are not ejected one by oneafter being fired, but are ejected all at the same time, as I havebefore described, by raising the lid to the magazine and inverting thegun, after which the belt may be recharged.

I have found by actual demonstration that the magazine in the stock ofthe gun may be of such capacity as to accommodate a cartridge-beltcarrying fifty of the forty-fourcaliber cartridges, and of course thisnumber would be greatly increased where the gun is built for smallercalibers, and even in revolvers, especially of the smaller calibers,there is ample space for many more cartridges than it is possible tocarry in a cylinder of practical dimensions. The stock of the gun, tocompensate for the weight of the cartridges and belt, is chambered toreceive the same and besides may be constructed of light hollow metal,so that the completely-loaded weapon will not weigh any more than anymagazinegun of like caliber.

Obviously the details of construction of a gun embodying my inventionmay be varied considerably, and many changes in form, relation, andcooperation of parts will readily suggest themselves to one skilled inthe art to which my invention a ')pertains,but all such changes wouldfall within the purview of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a magazine-gun, the combination with a cartridge-belt comprising aseries of cartridge-holders pivoted at their upper ends, of abreech-block pivoted forward of said belt, a lock-lever operating toswing said holder and block on their pivots and to lock said IIO blockin firing position, a trigger connected with, and actuating, said leverand a springactuated hammer operated by the trigger,substantially asdescribed.

2. In a magazine-gun, the combination with a cartridge-belt comprising aseries of pivoted cartridge-holders, of a breech-block, a trigger andmeans actuated by said trigger for swi nging one of said holders on itspivot and moving the breech-block to firing position and firing thecartridge, a feed-pawl adapted to engage said belt, a lever carrying thesame, a rod connecting said lever with the trigger and a pin-and-slotconnection between said lever and rod, substantially as described.

3. In amagazine-gun, the combination with a cartridge-belt comprising aseries of cartridge-holders pivoted at their upper ends, of abreech-block pivoted forward of said belt, a lock-lever operating toswing said holder and block on their pivots and to lock said block infiring position, a trigger connected with, and actuating said lever, afeed-pawl, a lever to which said pawl is pivoted, a rod connecting theopposite end of said lever with the trigger and a pin-and-slotconnection between said lever and rod, substantially as described.

a. In a magazine-gun, the combination with a cartridgebelt comprising aseries of cartridge-holders pivoted at their upper ends, of abreech-block pivoted forward of said belt, a lock-lever operating toswing said holder and block on their pivots and to lock said block infiring position, a trigger connected with, and actuating, said lever, aspring-actuated pivoted hammer, a spring-actuated trip on said hammer,an arm on the trigger adapted and arranged to engage said trip tooperate the hammer, a feed-pawl, a lever to one end of which said pawlis pivoted, a rod connecting the said end of said lever with the triggerand a pin-and-slot connection between said lever and rod, substantiallyas described.

5. In a magazine-firearm, the combination with a belt and pivotedcartridge-holders carried bysaid belt and swinging perpendicular to theplane of said belt, of a trigger, means operated by the trigger forfeeding said belt and means also operated by said trigger for swingingsaid cartridge holders scria/im about their pivots on said belt to thefiring position, substantially as described.

6. In a magazine-firearm, the combination with a belt, and a pluralityof cylindrical cartridge-holders each pivoted near one end to said beltand dependent therefrom, of a trigger, means operated by the saidtrigger for feeding said belt and means also operated by said triggerfor swinging said cartridge-holders scriatfm about their pivots to thefiring position, substantially as described.

7. In a magazine-firearm, the combination with a hollow stock andsprocket wheels or drums mounted in said stock, a belt traveling oversaid sprocket wheels or drums, and pivoted cartridge-holders carried bysaid belt and swinging perpendicular to the plane of said belt, of atrigger, means operated by the trigger for feeding said belt and meansalso operated by said trigger for swinging said cartridge-holdersseriat'im about their pivots on said belt to the firing position,substantially as described.

8. In a magazine-firearm, the combination with a hollow stock andsprocket wheels or drums mounted in said stock, a belt traveling oversaid sprocket wheels or drums, and a plurality of cylindricalcartridge-holders each pivoted near one end to said belt and dependenttherefrom, of a trigger, means operated by the said trigger for feedingsaid belt and means also operated by said trigger for swingin g saidcartrid ge-holders serz'utim about their pivots to the firing position,substantially as described.

9. In a magazine-firearm, the combination with a hollow stock, a hingedcover therefor and sprocket wheels or drums mounted in said stock, abelt traveling over said sprocket wheels or drums, and pivotedcartridge-holders carried by said belt, the said hinged cover normallyserving to keep the cartridges in said holders, of a trigger, meansoperated by the trigger for feeding said belt and means also operated bysaid triggerfor swinging said cartridge-holders scriatmt about theirpivots on said belt to the firing position, substantially as described.

10. In a magazine-firearm, the combination with a hollow stock and aremovable cover therefor, .of a belt traveling in said stock, and aplurality of hollow cylindrical cartridgeholders each pivoted near oneend to said belt and dependent therefrom with their open tops in closeproximity to said hinged cover, whereby the rims of said cartridges maybe held in place until the cover is raised, and then all of thecartridges or empty cartridgecases may be dumped out, and the beltrecharged, substantially as described.

11. In a magazine-firearm, the combination with a breech-frame, aswinging breech-block mounted in said frame and combining with saidframe when closed to form a cylindrical firing-chamber, a trigger, andmechanisms operated by the trigger for feeding the cartridge into saidchamber for swinging the breech-block, and for firing said cartridge,substantially as described.

12. In a magazine-firearm, the combination with a hollow stock, acartridge-belt mounted in said stock, pivoted cartridgeholders securedto said belt, a breech-frame, a breechblock mounted in said frame andcombining with said frame when closed to form acylindricalfiring-chamber, a trigger, and mechanisms operated by the said triggerfor feeding the cartridge-holder into said chamber, and for swinging thebreech-block to the closed position, substantially as described.

13. In a magazine-firearm, the combination with a hollow stock providedwith a removable cover, a cartridge-belt mounted in said IIO said belt,the said hinged cover normally servin g to keep the cartridges in placein said holders, a breech-frame, a swinging breech-block mounted in saidframe and combining with said frame when closed to form a cylindricalfiring-chamber, a trigger, means operated by said trigger for feedingthe cartridge-holder into said chamber, and means also operated by saidtrigger for swinging the breech-block to the closed position,substantially as described.

14. In a magazine-firearm, the combination with a hollow stock, acartridge-belt mounted in said stock, and cartridge-holders secured tosaid belt, of a movable breech-block, a trigger, and mechanismsuccessively operated by said trigger for swinging the cartridgeholderonits pivot, and for moving the breechblock to the firing position,substantially as described.

15. In a magazine-firearm, the combination with a belt and pivotedcartridge-holders carried by said belt, of a feed-pawl for moving saidbelt, a lever for operating said pawl, a trigger and a slotted rodpivoted to said trigger and engaging said lever, substantially asdescribed.

16. In a magazine-firearm, the combination with a belt and pivotedcartridge-holders carried by said belt, of a feed-pawl for moving saidbelt, a lever for operating said pawl, a movable stop for throwing saidpawl out of action, and a trigger and a slotted rod pivoted to saidtrigger and engaging said lever, substantially as described.

17. In a magazine-firearm, the combination with a belt, and a pluralityof cylindrical cartridge-holders each pivoted near one end to said beltand dependent therefrom, of a trigger, and means operated by the saidtrigger for feeding said belt, and a lifting-finger connected with andalso operated by said trigger, for swinging said cartridge-holdersseriatz'm about their pivots to the firing position, substantially asdescribed.

18. Ina magazine-firearm, the combination with a hollow stock andsprocket wheels or drums mounted in said stock, a belt traveling oversaid sprocket wheels or drums, and pivoted cartridge-holders carried bysaid belt, of a trigger, and means operated by the trigger for feedingsaid belt, and a lifting-finger connected with and also operated by saidtrigger for swinging said cartridge-holders sem'att'm about their pivotson said belt to the firing position, substantially as described.

19. In a magazine-firearm, the combination with a hollow stock andsprocket wheels or drums mounted in said stock, a belt traveling oversaid sprocket Wheels or drums, and a plurality of cylindricalcartridge-holders each pivoted near one end to said belt and dependenttherefrom, of a trigger and means operated by the said trigger forfeeding said belt, and a lever and lifting-finger connected with andalso operated by said trigger for swingstock, pivoted cartridge-holderssecured to {ingsaid cartridge-holdersseriattmabouttheir pivots to thefiring position, substantially as described.

20. In amagazine-firearm, the combination with a hollow stock, aremovable cover therefor and sprocket wheels mounted in said stock, abelt traveling over said sprocketwheels and pivoted cartridge-holderscarried by said belt, the said removable cover normally keeping thecartridges in said holders of a trigger and means operated by thetrigger for feeding said belt, and a lever andlifting-finger connectedwith and also operated by said trigger for swinging saidcartridgeholders seridttm about their pivots on said belt to the firingposition, substantially as described.

21. In a magazine-firearm, the combination with a hollow stock, acartridge-belt mounted in said stock, pivoted cylindricalcartridgeholders secured to said belt, a breech-frame, a breech-blockmounted in said frame and combining with said frame to form acylindrical firing-chamber, a trigger, and a springpawl and alifting-finger connected with and operated by the said trigger forfeeding the cartridge-holder into said chamber, and means for swingingthe breeclrblock to the closed position, substantially as described.

22. In a magazine-firearm, the combination with a hollow stock providedwith a remov able cover, a cartridge-belt mounted in said stock, pivotedcylindrical cartridge-holders secured to said belt, a breech-frame, aswinging breech-block mounted'in said frame and combining with saidframe to form a cylindrical firing-chamber, a trigger, and a feedpawland a lifting-finger connected with and operated by said trigger forfeeding the car-' tridge-holder into said chamber, a lockinglever and aconnecting-link also operated by said trigger for swinging thebreech-block to the closed position,substantially as described.

23. In a magazine-firearm, the combination with a breech-frame havingpart of the firingchamber recessed therein, and a swinging breech-blockalso recessed to complete the firing-chamber when in the closedposition, of a locking-lever for holding the breechblock in the closedposition, a connectingrod from said lockinglever pivoted to saidbreech-block for swinging the latter about its pivot, a trigger, andconnections between said trigger and said locking-lever for operatingthe latter by means of said trigger, substantially as described.

24. In a magazine-firearm, the combination with a breech-frame havingpart of the firing-chamber recessed therein and a swinging breech-blockalso recessed to complete the firing-chamber when in the closed positionand means for feeding the cartridge to said chamber, of a locking-leverfor holding the breech-block in the closed position, a connecting-rodfrom said locking-lever pivoted to said breech-block for swinging thelatter about its pivots, a lifting-finger carried by said locking-leverfor pushing the cartridge into said firing-chamber, a trigger, andconnections between said trigger and said locking-lever for operatingthe latter by means of said trigger, substantially as described.

25. In a magazine-firearm, the combination with a breech-frame havingpart of the firing-chamber recessed therein, and a swinging breech-blockalso recessed to complete the firing-chamber when in the closedposition, of a locking-lever for holding the breechblock in the closedposition, aconnecting-rod from said locking-lever pivoted to saidbreechblock for swinging the latter about its pivot, a trigger, andconnections between said trigger and said locking-lever for operatingthe latter by means of said trigger, and a springoperated hammer alsooperated by said trigger, substantially as described.

26. In a magazine-firearm, the combination with a hollow stock, and acartridge-belt therein, of a breech-frame having part of thefiring-chamber recessed therein, a swinging breech-block also recessedto complete the firing-chamber when in the closed position, and meansfor feeding the cartridge to said chamber, of a locking-lever forholding the breech-block in the closed position, a connecting-rod fromsaid locking-lever pivoted to said breech-block for swinging the latterabout its pivot, a lifting-finger carried by said locking-lever forpushing the cartridge into said firing-chamber, a trigger, a linkbetween said trigger and said locking-lever, and a spring-operatedhammer also operated by said trigger, substantially as described.

ANDREW ALFSON. Witnesses:

C. L. \VOOD, M. E. SHIELDS.

